STANLEY, Falkland Islands, July 21 (UPI) -- Falklands businesses are feeling the pinch as Argentina extends its sway over the South Atlantic waters as part of its campaign to draw attention to a sovereignty claim over the British-ruled territories.
Argentina and Britain went to war over control of the Falkland Islands, a British territory since 1833, after a military-backed Argentine invasion in 1982. Britain repulsed the takeover bid and secured Argentina's written surrender but Buenos Aires revived its sovereignty claim soon afterward.
News that the islands might be holding hydrocarbon reserves larger than those in the North Sea prompted Argentina in 2009 to begin a sea blockade and blacklisting of third-party shipping firms found trading with the Falklands.
In recent weeks Argentina tightened its monitoring of maritime traffic to the Falklands and taken its claim to international forums, arguing Britain's presence on the Falklands is a post-colonial anachronism. Britain responds the Falklanders, mostly of U.K. ancestry, chose to live under indirect British rule by exercising self-determination.
The Falklands' government vigorously defended its autonomous status when Argentina took its claim to the U.N. decolonization committee.
As Argentina awaits a diplomatic breakthrough, it has initiated measures against the Falklands that the local business leaders say are aimed at throttling the islands' economy.
The Falklands Chamber of Commerce called Argentina's actions a sea blockade of the civilian population of the Falklands with no respect for the human rights of the Falkland Islanders.
Roger Spink, president of the Falkland Islands Chamber of Commerce, told the FIRS radio station Argentine harassment of Falklands-bound shipping on the high seas was designed to disrupt the economy of the Falklands.
He called the Argentine measures "part of an orchestrated campaign to achieve by so-called peaceful means what the Argentines failed to achieve by military means in the 1982 conflict." More than 1,000 people died in that 74-day conflict.
"This aggressive bullying of 3,000 people, who also happen to be European Union citizens, by a nation of 40 million shows the Argentine Republic has no respect whatsoever for the human rights of the Falkland Islanders while at the same time Argentina cynically promotes its commitment to human rights on the world stage," Spink said in comments quoted by MercoPress.
An Argentine government decree authorized the country's maritime fleets to control Falklands-bounded sea routes. As a result, Falklands-bound vessels have ceased to link with Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile, a traditional source of supplies for the islands, Spink added.
He said the Argentine decree meant suppliers of goods and services in Chile stand to lose business worth several million dollars. Meanwhile, Falklands businesses are taking steps to find alternative routes and sources for merchandise.
"This is regrettable because good and long-standing trading relationships have built up and matured with Punta Arenas since 1982," Spink said. "Many Magallanes businesses are cutting back after losing trade with the Falklands due to the Argentine decree and they and their employees must feel penalized by their Argentine neighbors."
Argentine government officials in recent talks with British counterparts gave assurances that no blockades were on the cards. However, Spink said, "it is clear that the Argentines have every intention of economically blockading the Falklands."
